Recently published data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicates that, as of May 2023, there were more than 3,175,000 registered nurses (RNs) employed in the U.S.  Over 365,600 of those RN jobs were in the four-state Southwest region of the country.  Though most states in the region reported pay slightly above the national average, Oklahoma being the exception, none placed in the top ten. BLS data from May 2023 reveals the following about registered nurse pay in the Southwest:

Registered Nurse Pay in the Southwest

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
AZ	63,150	$91,430	18th
NM	18,030	$92,140	15th
OK	32,610	$82,110	37th
TX	251,840	$90,210	19th
U.S.	3,175,440	$89,611	-------

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on February 3, 2025